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Original poster

IT BTEC help - so confused

29 replies

MrsSnoops · 29/01/2022 15:48

Hello,
I have a lovely DS who is in year 11. He is bright and has a good knowledge but doesn't achieve particularly well on exams. He is likely to get 5's and 6's with maybe some 7's.

To be honest all we have been thinking about are A Levels as that is the only route I know of and he is planning to do Maths, Physics and CS.
I am not sure how well he will do at A level or if he will get the GCSE's needed to do them, but he is working hard to do so.

His passion is coding and programming. It is what he does in his spare time, he can spend hours doing it and it's what he wants to do as a job.

So today I have seen BTECs in IT and suddenly there is a whole other option opened up to him. He would still be able to do a degree if he wants to, but I am hoping it might be more suited to his skills than A-Levels which are so academic.

I can't seem to find a clear list or information about what BTECs in IT are available. Are there more than one, just one at different levels? Are there different specialisms?

Thanks so much.

OP posts:
TeenPlusCat · 29/01/2022 19:07

There are so many strings to computer science / IT you do need to look at course descriptions carefully. Where there are optional units for the college to choose from, make sure you know which they pick.

Personally I'd try to find something that gave a good grounding in a number of key areas rather than something that appears too specialised straight away.

TeenPlusCat · 29/01/2022 19:04

In general you would be looking for a Level 3 BTEC. Level 3 is the same academic level as A levels.

Then you would either have an Extended Diploma which is 'equivalent' of 3 A levels, or a Diploma which is the equivalent of 2 A levels. If he goes to a college that does BTECs and A levels they may be more likely to offer a Diploma, allowing 1 A level (eg maths) to be done along side. There is also a Certificate which is 1 A level equivalent.

Going back to the Extended Diploma the grades would go from PassPassPass (PPP) which is the same UCAS points as 3xE at A level, to Distinction Distinction Distinction which is around 3xA/A at A level (can't remember exact equivalences).

Just like the combined science gives grades going from 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, 6-5, 6-6 the Extended Diploma goes from PPP, MPP, MMP to DMM, DDM and then D D D all the way to D D D
Merit-Merit-Merit is the same UCAS as 3xC iirc.

TeenPlusCat · 29/01/2022 18:52

Our local college does Computer Science L3 which looks quite good.
Note a number of computer science degrees require Maths A level but I'm pretty sure there are places that don't.

tribpot · 29/01/2022 16:02

This isn't easy to find out, is it? I went to the British Computer Society assuming they would list out these kinds of qualifications but all they had were the kind of qualifications they offer themselves.

I think there is a BTEC specifically in programming - it's mentioned here on the Pearson website. Shipley College offer it (I appreciate that may not be very helpful for you!) and the description does sound like it would really suit him.

A levels are pretty academic, has he had a chance to do any taster lessons yet? (I can't remember when that happened, my ds is now in Y12). If you can find a college near you that's offering either the BTEC in IT or the BTEC in software development, I'd definitely encourage him to go to an open day and check it out.

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